State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director, today joined state and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Lunenburg Middle/High School on the site of the existing Lunenburg High School. The MSBA is contributing a maximum total facilities grant of more than $34 million of eligible expenses towards the project.
“I am delighted to help break ground on this important and long-awaited project,” Treasurer Grossman said. “Thanks to the MSBA’s successful and collaborative partnership with Lunenburg, students and staff at this school will benefit from a state-of-the-art learning and teaching environment for many years to come.”
The project consists of a new 169,018 square-foot facility with a design enrollment of 820 students in grades 6 through 12. The MSBA will contribute 59.11% of eligible costs toward the construction of the facility, for a total grant of up to $34,782,380. The current Lunenburg High School was built in 1960 and suffers from deficiencies in major systems, including mechanical, electrical, windows and roof.
“Besides creating much-needed jobs, construction of the Lunenburg Middle/High School will provide local students with a beautiful new learning space,” Executive Director McCarthy said. “This will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom.”
The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,450 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $10.9 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.